After inking a deal with Fleming Gulf Conferences (FGC) to be its official travel partner in the Asia Pacific region, Bonvo Travel, the travel management arm of the QI Group is set to provide FGC with corporate travel management and related services covering flight arrangements, accommodations and leisure programmes.
On June 19, Warna Radio, a Malay radio station in Singapore, aired an exclusive interview with Senior Executive from Bonvo, Mr Zulkifli Abdullah, who shared his thoughts on how the new deal would contribute significantly to Bonvo’s growth plan.
Abdullah told the host, “About 20 percent of Bonvo’s corporate clients come to Singapore while the rest are split between destinations like Malaysia, Thailand, Hong Kong and India. Actual passenger figures are confidential but we can look to achieving over 3,000 room nights a year.”
In Singapore, international visitor arrivals reached 3.12 million in the first quarter of 2011 alone, resulting in a 15.7% year-on-year growth, according to figures from the Singapore Tourism Board (STB).
With Bonvo increasing its profile in the corporate travel sector as well, Abdullah has no doubts that the company’s business will grow at a greater pace. “Bonvo works closely with local partners including tourist attractions, dining outlets, hotels, shopping malls and tourism authorities to come up with more competitive itineraries, both in terms of costs and value. Interesting and value-for-money itineraries help attract visitors, both in the leisure and business markets, and encourages them to stay on longer at the destination.”
“Singapore is fast becoming one of the most expensive cities in the world to visit. Bearing this in mind, Bonvo focuses a larger part of its efforts on the corporate travel industry. The MICE industry is a very lucrative one. Furthermore, business travel brings in leisure travel. Business people who enjoy their stay in a country would want to come back with their families,” he explained further.
The partnership with FGC also provides Bonvo with opportunities to handle travel arrangements for delegates from Fortune 500 companies, from sectors such as Pharmaceuticals, Transport, Investment and Healthcare.